Dozens Killed After Consuming Illegal Alcohol Already This Year, Study Finds
Jakarta. Counterfeit alcohol and moonshine has killed dozens of Indonesians already this year showing a failure in public health response, a study from the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies has found.
CIPS researcher Rofi Uddarojat said in a statement on Friday (11/03) the consumption of moonshine alcohol, known locally as oplosan, has caused scores of deaths across the country already this year.
The highest death count so far this year was recorded on Feb. 8 in a number of incidents in Yogyakarta, where at least 26 people died after consuming the alcohol.
Most recently, four men were killed and a dozen hospitalized last Wednesday after consuming alcohol in Cirebon, West Java.
Rofi predicted further fatalities and incidents if the sales of legitimate alcohol and consumption is banned, adding that Jakarta Police recorded a 58 percent spike in the amount of illegal alcohol confiscated in 2014 to 2015.
The spike coincided with the ban of alcohol sales in small shops and mini-markets as well as the implementation of 150 percent increase in import tax for alcoholic beverages, he said.
The CIPS study found the banning of alcohol as a priority is out of step with Indonesia's consumption rates when compared with other countries. Indonesians consume only 0.1 liters of legal alcohol per capita each year, but consumption of illegal alcohol stands at 0.5 liters per capita, the study said.
Currently, those most at risk of death or illness from alcohol poisoning are consumers from low-income households who cannot afford regulated alcohol drinks because of excessive taxes and unavailability in local shops.
Traditional mixes of homemade alcohol or 100 percent proof methanol with water and energy supplements are common throughout the country.
“If the House of Representatives passes the Bill on Alcohol Prohibition, producers and consumers will be forced to go underground. A ban will also strengthen organized crime syndicates producing deadly counterfeit alcohol,” Rofi said in a statement.
CIPS has called on lawmakers to reject the draft bill — which has been included in this year's priority legislation program — saying there is no sufficient research or data to support approval.
The government should instead focus on shifting dangerous alcohol consumption safer legal alcohol products by easing access to regulated alcohol, Rofi said.
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